Earnhardt's choice costly one

Racing in a non-Cup event he suffered burns from an accident.
By JENNA FRYER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. spends most of his time inside the cockpit of a stock car, on a high-speed chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship.
Add up 38 races a year, qualifying, practice and test sessions, Earnhardt probably spends about 700 hours a year in his No. 8 Chevrolet.
So when a free weekend opens up on his schedule, why would the son of the late Dale Earnhardt fly across the country to compete in an American Le Mans Series race?
"Driving race cars is what I love doing," Earnhardt Jr. said when announcing his participation in last Sunday's race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.
But what was supposed to be a fun, relaxing spin in a Corvette CR-5 turned into a frightening accident during practice that could have jeopardized his regular job. His car burst into flames, burning him on his chin and both legs.
Earnhardt slumped over his steering wheel as the flames engulfed him, and it took several seconds for him to scramble out of the car.
Can't afford to sit out
Second in the Nextel Cup points standings, Earnhardt cannot afford to sit out Sunday's race in New Hampshire. Since NASCAR does not have a substitute driver rule, Earnhardt must start the race to earn any points and stay in contention for his first championship.
DEI plans to have Martin Truex Jr. on standby in case Earnhardt can't finish. Truex has never competed in a Nextel Cup event, but he has tested at New Hampshire to prepare for his series debut there in September.
Still, using Truex as an injury replacement is not the ideal scenario for Earnhardt or DEI.
In hindsight, Earnhardt probably should have spent his last off weekend of the season at the beach or in the mountains. Heck, even sitting on his couch in his living room would have been a better idea than competing in a race that meant nothing to DEI or the sponsors who pay millions for Earnhardt to drive his red Chevrolet.
But that's not how racers live their lives.
"It's what we grew up doing," said NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader, who races in about 60 non-Nextel Cup events. "If you just race on Cup weekends, then it's your job. But racing is still my hobby. It's what I love to do. It seems like if there's a weekend and there's a race, then I'm supposed to be in it."
Inherited from father
Earnhardt inherited that characteristic from his father, who was killed in a last-lap wreck in the 2001 Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt introduced his son to extracurricular events, and the two even raced a Corvette together in the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway about a month before the fatal crash.
Besides continuing the family business as the top driver at DEI, Earnhardt Jr. has made occasional appearances in non-NASCAR events. Before Sunday, he most recently had teamed with Tony Stewart and Britain's Andy Wallace to nearly win the Rolex race in February.
So he jumped at the opportunity to join road racing specialist Boris Said last weekend. Even from his hospital bed after the wreck, he didn't second-guess the decision.
"I'm bummed out and disappointed I couldn't run the race," Earnhardt said in a statement.
But future extracurricular activities will surely be scrutinized.
Sponsor won't stop him
Budweiser, the primary sponsor of Earnhardt's NASCAR ride, won't prevent him from competing in future races.
"Although there is always risk in all forms of motorsports, we support Dale Jr.'s efforts to become the most successful driver he can be," said Tony Ponturo of Budweiser.
DEI officials might not feel the same way.
But if Earnhardt is anything like his father -- and so far, his toughness, determination and desire indicates he is -- it will be hard for anyone to keep him out of a race car.